Diego Costa: Can he deliver for Chelsea?
Following his $55 million transfer from Atletico Madrid this summer, Diego Costa is expected to do one thing at Chelsea: score goals.
And plenty of 'em.
Last season the Brazilian born striker led the Spanish side to the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League final as he scored 35 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions.
That form prompted Jose Mourinho and Chelsea to splash the cash as their three forwards (Demba Ba, Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres ) scored 19 Premier League goals combined last season. They need a talisman and someone who can deliver goals on a regular basis.
Costa, who scored 64 goals in 134 appearances for Atletico, will have that expectancy weighing heavily on his shoulders ahead of the new season. However after chatting with his new manager Mourinho, the Spanish international told the clubs website that he isn't going to changing much, if anything, about his game.
“One of the main things he [Mourinho] said was that he doesn't want me to change,” Costa said. “It was Jose's and the club's decision to buy me and the reason they signed me was because of the way I played at Atletico. I just have to improve fine details to become a better player.”
Can Costa deliver the goals Chelsea desperately need after a trophyless season in 2013-14?
Time will tell if he turns into a Didier Drogba or Fernando Torres signing for the Blues. One thing we do know is that Costa is perfectly suited to the PL. Watching him come up against Chelsea live in Atletico's Champions League semifinal second leg win over the Blues at Stamford Bridge back in April, Costa gave Gary Cahill and John Terry a torrid evening. His selfless running into channels, his workrate, hold up play and deft touches in and around the box make him a menace. He won a penalty, then dispatched it to put Atletico ahead in the second half. By that time he had already harassed Chelsea's entire backline in to several giveaways. That's why he can succeed in the PL, as it continues to be the most physically demanding league in the world.
At Chelsea he will get plenty of chances delivered to him on a plate. He's finishing is great, but that's not the most impressive thing about Costa. He had two separate spells at Atletico, spent several seasons out on loan with many smaller clubs and has reached the top through a long and winding route. He is not complacent, he works hard for the team and harder to engineer chances for himself. His hunger shows no sign of diminishing at the age of 25.
That is why, ladies and gents, I won't be surprised to see Costa bang in 30 goals this season in the PL. He will get the service. If he plays like he did at Atletico, he will deliver.